Jesse Blackadder, Dexter: the courageous koala, ABC Books, 15 December 2014, $14.99, 208pp., ISBN: 9780733331787
This is a fantastic book for animal lovers. Written from two points of view, Ashley a 12-year-old girl and Dexter the rescued koala, it chronicles their parallel journeys through disappoint, hurt, loss and joy.
Ashley is sent to stay with her aunt for the school holidays. When floods damage the local koala habitat Ashley and her aunt rescue Dexter and his mother. Floodwaters block the road to the vet preventing access to the medical care the mother koala needs, so Ashley must rely on her own bravery to get medical attention for the injured mother koala and her joey.
This book is well written and the two points of view make an interesting contrast when exploring the themes of fear, loss, grief, bravery and maturing. There is also a lot of detail about the time involved in rescuing koalas and the amazing job that carers and rescue groups provide.
reviewed by Katie Poidomani